Feasibility of a yoga, aerobic and stretching-toning exercise program for adult cancer survivors: the STAYFit trial

BACKGROUND: The use of yoga as a mind–body practice has become increasingly popular among clinical populations and older adults who use this practice to manage age and chronic disease-related symptoms. Although yoga continues to gain popularity among practitioners and researchers, pilot studies that examine its feasibility and acceptability, especially among cancer survivors, are limited. Feasibility studies play a critical role in determining whether the target population is likely to engage with larger scale efficacy and effectiveness trials. In this paper we present feasibility and acceptability data from a 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted with adult cancer survivors. METHODS: Participants n = 78 (Mean age: 55 years) were randomized to one of three groups: a Hatha yoga, aerobic exercise, or stretching-toning control group with group exercise classes held for 150 min/week for 12 weeks. Herein we report feasibility and acceptability, including enrollment rates, attendance, attrition and adverse events, and participant feedback and satisfaction data. RESULTS: Of the 233 adults screened, 109 were eligible and 78 randomized to one of the three intervention arms. Session attendance was high for all groups (75.5–89.5%) and 17 participants dropped out during the 12-week intervention. Program satisfaction was high (4.8 or higher out of 5) and no adverse events were reported. One cohort (n = 15) of the intervention transitioned to remote intervention delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Feasibility data from these participants suggested that synchronized group exercise classes via Zoom with a live instructor were acceptable and enjoyable. Participant feedback regarding most and least helpful aspects of the program as well as suggestions for future yoga interventions are summarized. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the yoga intervention was highly feasible and acceptable. The feasibility parameters from this trial can aid researchers in estimating recruitment rates for desired sample sizes to successfully randomize and retain cancer survivors in short- and long-term yoga-based efficacy and effectiveness trials. The findings also provide evidence to clinicians who can recommend up to 150 min of a combination of exercises—aerobic, yoga, or stretching-toning to their cancer patients in order to improve health and wellbeing during cancer survivorship.